Mesa Ridge High School teacher arrested in sex assault case

Police have arrested a 31-year-old Mesa Ridge High School teacher on suspicion of sexual assault on a child.

Roger Thomas French Jr. is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a female student, Colorado Springs Police said. Although he works in the county, the case was turned over to Colorado Springs police because the assault allegedly occurred in the city.

Widefield School District 3 spokeswoman Samantha Briggs said French was a special education teacher who started his job with the school in August. She did not have additional information about his work history. French was booked into the El Paso County Jail Thursday night, held on $25,000 bail.